Southampton’s former managerial target Carlos Corberan has steadied Valencia’s relegation battle, leading the Saints to wonder if they could have achieved similar results had they chosen him.
There are some unwritten football rules that every fan respects, and rightly so. After all, you don’t ask a Brazilian winger to track back deep again and again, right?
Similarly, there’s this one that goes like this, “Never, never look over a Spanish manager if stuck in a relegation scrap.”
And who better to prove this than the Premier League itself? Be it Julen Loptegui’s memorable Wolves job, steering the club from rock-bottom to the 13th position within months or Unai Emery’s role, who replicated similar heroics at Villa in the 2022/23 season itself, the league has seen it time and again.
And when a club ignores this golden rule? Well, Southampton learned the hard way, again.
In case you remember, amidst Russell Martin’s sack callouts, the Saints club were linked to a Spanish boss Carlos Corberan. Now, all parties were interested too, but as per a recent TBR Football report, Southampton’s decision to not pay up £2.5m compensation to West Brom for Corberan, halted a move.
Valencia shows what Southampton have missed by declining Corberan
Ultimately, the Saints brought in boss Ivan Juric and Corberan moved to Valencia, defining the reality we see today.
While Southampton teeters on the brink of their worst-ever Premier League season with Juric, Corberan has worked wonders with Valencia. Not only did the manager help the La Liga club avoid relegation, but he also has them sitting comfortably in 15th place now.
Today, looking back at that decision, no Saints fan can help but wonder, why didn’t the club push harder for the Spanish boss when he was available for a brewing-up relegation battle?
Still, there’s no point dwelling on the past. Currently, Southampton has a golden opportunity to get it right, with a crucial choice between Liam Rosenior and Danny Röhl ahead of next season.
Let’s hope they finally get it right this time.
